Peifer, Gravellier and Wagner get off to winning starts in New Zealand

NEWS ARTICLE

Nicolas Peifer (FRA), Florence Gravellier (FRA) and David Wagner (USA) won the main draw singles titles at the first NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour event of 2008 as the New Zealand Open came to an end on Friday in Christchurch.

The most exciting of the day's main draw finals came in the Women's Singles as world No 4 and second seed Gravellier came from a set down to edge past top seed Jiske Griffioen (NED) 36 64 75.

Seventeen-year-old Peifer, the world's top ranked junior boy, has yet to drop a set of tennis in 2008 after beating compatriot Frederic Cazeaudumec 75 61 in the Men's Main Draw Singles final to complete a French double.

In the Quad Singles world No 1 Wagner began the week by edging to a 76(4) 64 win and after two more comfortable subsequent straight sets wins he had another tough examination in Friday's final. However, Wagner again managed to convert the crucial points to hold off compatriot and second seed Nick Taylor 64 76(4).

Peifer clinched his second title of the day in the Men's Main Draw Doubles final as he and fellow Frenchman Frederic Cattaneo fully justified their top seeding to defeat second seeds Jon Rydberg (USA) and Ben Weekes (AUS) 61 63.